Geoffrey L. Sansom
SANSOM, Geoffrey Lloyd – We are all saddened to share that our dear Geoffrey Lloyd Sansom passed away on April 17, 2026. Geoff was born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1943 but quickly decided that the UK was better suited for someone of his wit and temperament. His British boarding school experiences meant that he could talk with anyone and he formed close friends around the globe. As a Beloit College student in Wisconsin during the 1960s, he made meaningful life-long friendships and graduated in Political Science.
Geoff believed in speaking truth to power; civil rights on his college campuses, student rights with school administrators, and anyone comfortable with injustice. His anti-war stance to avoid and oppose the Vietnam draft brought him to Canada. Here he became a high school teacher, spending most of his career at Acton High School instructing English, history, drama, and creative writing. Students often called him one of their favourite teachers. He was actively involved with supervising the Yearbook, directing school plays, and leading Reach for the Top. No matter his students’ scholarly enthusiasm, he enjoyed working with all of them. Some of the school administrators, not so much. His knowledge and use of language in service of his wit was unparalleled. To quote from his retirement self-authored blurb, “One might refer to this drama as an attempt at theatre of the absurd… ‘The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” is much better fare”.
Geoff happily took early retirement from teaching and embarked on his second career as a Psychotherapist. Drawing from his Adlerian background and his ability to listen deeply, he supported and encouraged his clients as he did for so many on his life journey. He wrote fiction and poetry in his spare time, as well as freely shared wisdom and advice to friends and family. The cottage on Lake Huron was a particularly happy place for him, as he would enjoy drinks on the deck, sunsets, family visits, and drives in the country, all while dispensing vibrant thoughts about the state of the world and humanity.
The true love of his life was his wife, Val. Theirs is an epic love story, as they supported each other through all of life’s ups and downs, travelling together literally around the world. There are not enough words nor poetry to describe their deep bond. Together, they formed a family who sat by Geoff’s bedside in his final days and reminisced about this wonderful man who touched so many lives in so many positive and meaningful ways. Geoff was a dedicated father who was always there to support his children and grandchildren, whether that was midnight rescue runs, parenting advice, or anything else that was needed.
Geoff is survived by his wife, Valerie Walters, and children Kris (Steve), Kim (Stewart), Lisa (James), and Henry. He was a loving grandfather to Adrien, Noah, Alex, and Fenno. Geoff is predeceased by his parents Harry and Gwyneth Sansom, as well as his brother, John, and sister, Leslie.
Please join us to celebrate Geoff’s life on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Guelph Country Club, 133 Woodlawn Road East, Guelph, ON N1E 7H9. Visitation from 1-4pm, with a service and sharing of memories at 2pm.
Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Sunnyside Foundation.
Special thanks to the wonderful caregivers at The Village of Riverside Glen in Guelph and Sunnyside Home in Kitchener where the team looked after him with such heartfelt consideration in his final months.
Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We’re both of us beneath our love, we’re both of us above
Dance me to the end of love
Leonard Cohen
A tree will be planted in memory of Geoffrey L. Sansom in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.